Thermocouple means



Sept. 23, 1952 w. E. BRANDAU THERMOCOUPLE MEANS Filed Feb. 9. 1950 .umw

FIG. 2

IN VEN TOR. W/LL IAM E BRAND/4U Patented Sept. 23, 1952 'rmimuoooms- Means William E. Brendan, Westwood, N. J., assignor to l Bendix Aviation Corporation, Teterboro, N. J.,

a corporation of Delaware Application February-9,1956. Serial No. 143,225

Claims.

The present invention relates to temperature measuring means and more particularly to a thermocouple for the temperature measurement of high temperature gases.

The invention is particularly adapted to that type of application wherein it is desired to meas-- ure the temperature of the exhaust gases in a Jet engine, or the temperatures about the tail pipe area of a jet engine powered craft.

Similar devices of the prior art have been employed to measure the temperature of a gas, but these generally have been subject to certain structural disadvantages which reduce their durability and utility such as, for example, the disintegration of the ceramic body of the thermocouple through repeated vibrational contact of the structure supporting the sensitive element with the external housing, orbecause of the diiferential expansion under high temperature conditions between the ceramic material and the thermocouple wires. The failure heretofore to solve the herein disclosed problems has resulted in premature destruction due to wear of the thermocouple components, unreliable operation as a result thereof, and an increase in maintenance and replacement costs.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a thermocouple for the measurement of relatively high temperature gases wherein the foregoing problems are eliminated and to do so in a novel and efiective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thermocouple for the measurement of relatively high temperature gases wherein the external housing is eliminated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a thermocouple of the above indicated nature wherein the sensitive element is free from vibrational contact with the supporting struce ture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thermocouple, for the measurement of the temperature of gases, which will be eiiectively ap plicable for the temperature measurement of jet engine combustion and exhaust gases.

Still another object of the invention is to provide thermocouple means of the above indicated nature which will be more durable and yet more economical than similar means heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thermocouple for the measurement of the temperature of gases which will be simple and easy to manufacture, yet positive and reliable in operation.

' ence characters designate like parts.

The foregoing and other obiectsand advantages will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawing is for the purpose 0! illustration only :and is not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

Reierring to the drawing wherein like refer- Figure 1 is a horizontal section of mocouple. a a

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly' to Figure 1, a thermocouple assembly l0 comprises a substantially elongated annular ceramicbody l2 which includes a top portion I4 and a probe portion of smaller diameter l-6, a pair of through holes is and 20 (Figures 1 and 2) extend the length of the ceramic body l2 and contain the thermocouple wires 2! and 22. The wires 2! and 22 are dissimilar conductors made of suitable alloys commonly employed in the art such as gold-palladium and platinum-rhodium and are of relatively smaller diameter than the holes i8 and 20. The conductors 2i and 22 are jointed by a fusible wire 24 at the base of the probe portion i6- the as.

, A non-conducting annular insert it supports each wire 2| and 22 at the base ofthe probe portion it. The inserts 26 are made of a gummy pliable substance suitable to absorb the vibration loads of the wires 2! and 22.

The opposite ends of thewires ii and 22 emerge from the top portion M and connect about an insert stud 28 embedded in the ceramic top por-- tion it. v A washer 30 and a lock washer 3t under pressure of the nut 34 hold the thermocouple wires 2i and 22 firmly to the stud it. The ends of the studs 28 contain suitable electrical terminals 36 so that the thermocouple It may be connected into an electrical circuit.

An annular wedge sectioned seal 38 concentric about the ceramic body it rests. beneath a collar 48 and secures the collar firmly to the ceramic body ii. The collar it comprises a hexagonal nut section 42 and a threaded section 44.

Having thus described the invention in operation, it will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art that when the probe portion ii of the thermocouple II is threaded by means threads N into a combustion chamber or an engine well and secured firmly in place by means 01' the hexagonal section 42, the thermocouple will be subject to the vibration oi the structure to which it is secured.

Since no external housing encompasses the ceramic body i2, there will be no wear of ceramic due to. vibration against the metallic housing.

Similarly since the holes 18 and 20 are of larger diameter than the wires 2i and 22 there will be 1 no vibrational contact between the wires and the inner portion of the ceramic body l2.

In this manner the problem of unequal expan'sion'of dissimilar materials in close struc substance, for example, a lead oxide and Pyrex glass compound.

Metallic inserts integrally cast with the ce ramic may likewise be used to locally clamp the thermocouple wires in place, or one or many high temperature cements common in the art such as sauerreisen, may be used as insert material.

There are thus provided temperature measuring means for high temperature gases or the like wherein the problems of vibration and loosening of the ceramic material are substantially eliminated.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, other changes and modifications in the iorm and relative arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A probe for measuring the temperature of gases comprising, in combination, an elongated annular ceramic section including an end portion of larger diameter, a pair of through longitudinal holes in said section, a dissimilar conductor through each hole, said conductors having a diameter less than said holes and interfused at one end 01' said section, a resinous insert in each hole adjacent the base of said section, said inserts supporting said conductors away from the walls of said holes, a pair of terminal .inserts in said end portion, said conductors secured to said inserts, a collar about one end oi. said section and an annular wedge securing said collarto said section, said collar threaded for installing said probe.

2. A probe for measuring the temperature of high temperature gases comprising, in combina- '4 tion. a corrosion resistant elongated section having a portion thereof adapted to be inserted into said gases, a pair or through bores in said section, a dissimilar conductor concentric within each bore, said bores of larger diameter than said conductors, resilient insert means in said bores adjacent one endthereoi' for supporting said conductors out oi contact with said bores, a fusible element joining one end of said cone ductors, stud means connected to the other end of said conductors and adapted to connect said conductors to an electrical circuit.

3. A probe for measuring the temperatures of Jet engine gases comprising, a cy mqflcal ceramic'se'ction including one end of larger diameter and an end portion of lesser diameter for insertion in said gases, a pair oi through longitudinal bores in said section, a dissimilar,

conductor 01 smaller diameter than said bores concentric within each bore, a resinous vibration absorbent support for said conductors in each bore adjacent one endthereoi and concentric about. said conductors, a fusible element joining said conductors at one end, a pair of terminals securing said conductors at .the opposite'end, and means for securing said section -to said engine.

4. In a thermocouple for measuring the temperature of substantially high temperature gases wherein a pair of dissimilar conductors inside a ceramic section are inserted into the fluid under measurement, the improvement comprising. a

pair of through bores in said section of largerdiameter than said conductors, a resinous vibration absorbent support for said conductors positioned at one end of said bores, said support maintaining said conductors in spaced relation to and clear 0! the walls of said bores.

5. In a thermocouple for measuring the temperature of substantially high temperature gases, in combination, an elongated ceramic section directly in contact with said gases. a pair of dissimilar conductors joined at one end, a bore about each of said conductors of larger diameter than said conductors, and a vibration resistant support in'said bores adjacent one end thereof for keeping said conductors clear of the walls 01' said bores, and means for securing said section in contact with said gases.

WILLIAM E. BRANDAU.

REFERENCES CITED The 'iollowing references are of record invthe file of this patent:

Abbott Oct. 10. 1.950 

